Finasteride/Propecia side effects resolution?

[chrisis]

Hi guys,

I started taking finasteride in November and stopped at the end of January. It's mid April now and I'm still suffering side effects.

Does anyone know how I can resolve this? Should I see a doctor or will it get better in time?

[chrisis]

I should add that I seem to have good days and bad days. One day I think I'm getting over it, the next I have low sensitivity and my dick doesn't working properly.

[8868alex]

Hi Chris

Sorry to hear that. What sides are you having and is there any chance they could be caused by anything else? (other meds, stress, etc).

If you are going forward with you HT be very careful as without Propecia, you may end up in a difficult situation in a few years. Bearing in mind that you are a UK guy, maybe contact Dr Farjo for advice about Propecia sides?

[chrisis]

Hi Chris

Sorry to hear that. What sides are you having and is there any chance they could be caused by anything else? (other meds, stress, etc).

If you are going forward with you HT be very careful as without Propecia, you may end up in a difficult situation in a few years. Bearing in mind that you are a UK guy, maybe contact Dr Farjo for advice about Propecia sides?

Cheers 8868alex.

My side effects (graphic warning!) are basically lower sensitivity in the penis, harder to orgasm, less ejaculate.

I've never had these problems before until I started taking finasteride and there's nothing going on in my life besides this that could have caused it.

Accept your point about the HT. It's something I plan to talk over in my consultations before I reach a decision. Does Dr Farjo even acknowledge side effects? It seems to be the case that most doctors don't take them very seriously.

[clandestine]

chrisis; I realize it may be a long shot, but perhaps the use of Loratadine may, in fact, give some sort of resolution to your persistent sides. Perhaps not, but by my books it's undoubtedly worth a shot!

Sorry if it sounds like I'm reiterating from the previous thread, but it definitely seems worth a try to me in order to test the validity of samjone's claim, something that only people experiencing persistent sides are able to do, and for the benefit of others.

Originally Posted by samjone36

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15913872

Use the link above and see for yourself. Claritan (Loratadine) has been clinically determined to solve erectile dysfunction in men. I suffered from sexual dysfunction for many years after discontinuing propecia and stumbled upon this by accident. I tried Claritan for an allergy and the next day I noticed that I had regained full erectile function. Try it please and never give up hope.

Cheers,
All the best.

[chrisis]

I'll look into it, thanks! I guess it will need to be prescribed.

[clandestine]

I'll look into it, thanks! I guess it will need to be prescribed.

Glad to hear, mate. Maybe it'll clear everything up, who knows, really?

[8868alex]

Cheers 8868alex.

My side effects (graphic warning!) are basically lower sensitivity in the penis, harder to orgasm, less ejaculate.

I've never had these problems before until I started taking finasteride and there's nothing going on in my life besides this that could have caused it.

Accept your point about the HT. It's something I plan to talk over in my consultations before I reach a decision. Does Dr Farjo even acknowledge side effects? It seems to be the case that most doctors don't take them very seriously.

Farjo is the only IAHRS doctor in the Uk. I think he would be better than asking your GP. Maybe a place to start, at least.

[chrisis]

I will send an email. Thank you!

[SoothSayer]

Does Dr Farjo even acknowledge side effects? It seems to be the case that most doctors don't take them very seriously.

Hi Chrisis, I'm really sorry to hear that your situation hasn't improved in the past few months. As you may have spent some time looking at some of the individual reports of such situations online very few have been fortunate enough to come across a recovery. However you should definitely follow up with the proper doctors (endocrinologists/urologists) to see if you have developed problems from a non-Propecia related cause that may be curable.

You can also try pursuing an appointment with hair transplant surgeons but sadly I don't think they will take you seriously. To the best of my knowledge Dr. Farjo does not accept the possibility of finasteride causing long-term problems but who knows how he will respond to the FDA's recent warning revision.

Lastly and most importantly, I suggest you follow up with your case to the FDA's medwatch reporting bureau. Only a small proportion of men that have developed problems from finasteride have reported their cases to the FDA. When more men submit their reports it makes it more likely that the FDA will strengthen their warnings which will likely drum up interest in research from the medical community.

By the way, there have been other guys on this forum that developed side effects from the drug that did not reverse and had actually posted on the forum before ever trying the drug. It is very possible these side effects are much more common than is possibly thought but severely under-reported for many reasons. Good luck.

[mpb47]

My advice is to wait it out a few more months and if you are still not better go to your Dr and have your hormone levels checked. I slowly got better but never better enough to be called normal. I waited and waited and should have gone to my Dr sooner. Good luck!!

[chrisis]

Thanks for your reply Soothsayer. Men in general are notorious for failing to seek medical help. If this was a drug for women, you can be sure this would be a widely known issue.

I can't quite understand why doctors are not accepting how serious this situation is. Unless they're getting paid by Merck, what incentive do they have to deny what's plain for all to see? I'm not accusing anyone here, I just don't get it. One day we'll look back on this drug like we look at smoking, mark my words.

I will report my case to the FDA. Thanks for the suggestion.

[chrisis]

My advice is to wait it out a few more months and if you are still not better go to your Dr and have your hormone levels checked. I slowly got better but never better enough to be called normal. I waited and waited and should have gone to my Dr sooner. Good luck!!

Thanks mpb47. How long did it take and how close to "normal" did you get? I think a doctor appointment might have to be sooner rather than later.

[SoothSayer]

Thanks for your reply Soothsayer. Men in general are notorious for failing to seek medical help. If this was a drug for women, you can be sure this would be a widely known issue.

I can't quite understand why doctors are not accepting how serious this situation is. Unless they're getting paid by Merck, what incentive do they have to deny what's plain for all to see?

I will report my case to the FDA. Thanks for the suggestion.

I'm not really sure about the gender issue, but it is very humiliating to suffer from erectile dysfunction which explains when men are unwilling to come forward or admit this to themselves. Hopefully the FDA's public warning will make this type of issue more acceptable.

I cannot say whether or not Merck is paying off doctors - directly or indirectly. Pharmaceutical companies are notorious for engaging doctors in very unethical and indirect ways to essentially persuade them to prescribe more of their safe and believe they are safe. Many of the doctors that deny this type of thing also also defending their ego and reputation and will obviously be biased around this issue. Nobody wants to think that throughout their entire career they put their clients into unwarranted risks.

On the last note, please do not forget to contact the FDA. It does not take very much time and it is the single most important thing to do at the moment to gain recognition and interest in research. I suggest others to do the safe if they are experiencing side effects after taking propecia that have not subsided within 3 months.

[chrisis]

I'm reporting my case on the FDA website.

First thing I'd like to note is how BAD the website is designed and how the questions are geared towards physicians rather than patients.

Any wonder there's so much confusion? It's as if it's intentional.

e.g.:

2. Outcomes Attributed to Adverse Event (Check all that apply)

Death (MM/DD/YYYY)
Life-threatening
Hospitalization - initial or prolonged
Disability or Permanent Damage


6. Relevant Tests/Laboratory Data, Including Dates
up to a total of 2000 characters allowed